“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to Nation-building and reconciliation.” Nelson Mandela.
Education is a passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. The only person who is educated and knowledgeable is the one who has learned how to learn… and change from ignorance to sound mind.
At the entrance gate of a university in South Africa, a message was posted for contemplation. “Destroying any nation does not require the use of atomic bombs or the use of long range missiles…it only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in examinations by the students..” Patients die at the hands of such doctors.. Buildings collapse at the hands of such engineers. Money is lost at the hands of such economists and accountants.. Humanity dies at the hands of such religious scholars.. Justice is lost at the hands of such Judges… “The collapse of education is the collapse of the nation.” And the collapse of a nation is the death of a generation.
In a country where there is no clear-cut curricular, it becomes a breeding ground for inefficiency. A situation where the best brains do not go to Colleges of Education, then what calibre of products do you expect them to churn out? In a country where some people are denied entry into university because of their state of origin while others are admitted into higher institutions with lower grades because of their state of origin.
These and more, are factors that militate against our educational system which results in inefficiency, nepotism and other social vices too many to mention.. Added to these social norms are the proliferation of private schools established by well to do people starting from ex presidents, senators, governors to top politicians who ensured by subtle means to kill government owned primary, secondary and universities -public schools so that their schools would thrive.
While a lot of the populace cannot afford the exorbitant fees which these schools charge, it thererfore becomes clear that most of our children are denied quality education. No wonder we make two steps forward and three steps backward because illiteracy in disguise has been taken to another level. And no wonder that we import everything from toothpick to pencils when we have research intitutions which have refused to think and bring us out of poverty.
In short, these are some of the things that need urgent attention in our educational system:
1) Structures
2) Faciluties/equipment
3)Textbooks
4) Quality of teachers
5)Remuneration
6) Welfare and incentives
etc etc.
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”-Marcus Garvey.
Sadly enough, our children have become easy targets for rogues who capitalise on our weak security apparatus to kidnap them and keep them at bay by denying them of quality education and raping the girls. This is a terrible season which should not be allowed to continue if we have any legacy to bequeath our children…yet again, bandits invade private university and kidnap dozens of students in Kaduna state today.
AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE SOCIAL MALADY…WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE BALL.
Richard Odusanya is a ‘Social Reformer’ and the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI.
